Turkey/Kurd background

Background: According to http://www.flashpoints.info/, a website focusing on conflicts around the world, The Kurdish/ Turkey conflict is based on the fact that during World War 1, the Ottoman Empire was divided into several countries, and one of these countries became known as Kurdistan. After the War, this country was not able to remain a country. However, people from Turkey, Iraq, and some other surrounding countries resided here at the time, and have since wanted to keep their nationality. Since then, the country of Turkey has wanted to separate from the Kurds.

Uprising of the Conflict: In 1990, towards the end of the Cold War, a Kurdish Separatist Movement was started, which became the first unified attempt to separate these people. This eventually led to the first violent outbreak in 1992, where the Kurdish Workers Party (PPK) announced a war government which would attempt to regain their former territories and obtain political rights. From that point and up until now, the contrasting conflict between Turkey and the Kurdish people has been mutual.

Causes of the Conflict: According to http://www.flashpoints.info/ the war is primarily based on geographical disputes stemming back to the end of WWI. It was at this time that the established Kurdistan territories were redrawn, thus destroying any one area for the Kurds to call their own. However, these people have yet remained with the areas of Turkey, Iraq, and Iran because, quoting Stephen John Morgan's article, "Behind the Turkey-Kurdish Conflict" at http://www.thecheers.org/ ,"they have survived because of their national pride and culture, which, despite differences in linguistic dialects, allow them to share a common language, folklore, music and festivals from their Arabic, Persian, and Turkish oppressors."

As well as geographical disputes, the war can also be seen as a struggle for human rights. By http://www.thecheers.org/ the Kurds have faced oppression since the very beginning of the conflict, and until recently, have not been recognized as a separate people from the Turkish people themselves. This had led to the persecution of their political rights, as Turkey doesn't wish to allow them a voice in the state, but also refuses them a portion of territory to which they may govern themselves. This is a big reason why Kurds have been mistreated due to the fact that they are living in Turkey's area of land. However, these actions, have also has caused problems for the Turks, who would like to become part of the European Union, but is disallowed due to the persecution of the Kurdish people within its borders.

Groups Involved: There are several political parties involved. The PKK (The Kurdish Workers Party) is the main rebel group. The PKE is similar to the PKK, but is made up of different types of people, and tends to be the more peaceful side of the party.